AN OLD soldier has been left a broken man after being assaulted at work.

War pensioner Patrick McRory was viciously beaten up by two men while working as a night security guard at the YWCA hostel in Altrincham.

Grandfather Patrick, 64, says that despite being being warned by the hostel manageress that trouble was expected, no extra guards were put on duty and he was left to face his attackers alone.

The two men - a resident and his friend - attacked him with a chain, leaving him needing 10 stitches in his head and other severe injuries including broken fingers and a dislocated shoulder. They were later jailed for the attack.

Patrick was retired because of ill health nine months later. He is now suing his former employers for the injuries and trauma he has suffered as a result of the attack.

Since the assault - in May last year - he has been receiving post traumatic stress counselling, is on constant medication and suffers from mood and sleep problems.

Patrick says: "They were like savages. They chased me, cornered me and assaulted me - all because I was doing my job. It was totally unprovoked. I thought my final moments had arrived. If it had not been for my army training, which helped me stay on my feet, I would probably have been kicked to death."

Patrick, who began working at the hostel in 1991, says he had been so worried about the increasing level of intimidation and threatening behaviour by residents that he warned his bosses about it on a number of occasions.

Patrick, from Northern Moor, served in Malaya and in Egypt during Suez crisis, with the Seaforth Highlanders and during the 1950s.

His solicitor, Adrienne de Vos, from Slater Heelis Sale, says: "This is a truly awful case. My client was left alone and vulnerable."

A spokesman for the YWCA told SAM: "This case is being dealt with by our insurers and we feel it would be inappropriate to discuss it while legal negotiations are continuing."

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